It used to be that when you spent 30 years with a company you could expect a pension and a gold watch when you retired.
So what do you get when you retire after more than three decades with a rock band?
"I don't know, maybe a gold stage? A gold album would be enough," says Scorpions lead guitarist Matthias Jabs.
Actually, the German rock band, which is at the tail end of its two-year, around-the-world "Final Sting" farewell tour, has plenty of gold albums among its 100 million-plus album sales. So when the group takes it final bows at Germany's König-Pilsener arena in Oberhausen on Dec. 15, it will walk away with a lifetime of memories that are far more valuable than anything gold-plated.
"Looking back, I'm in the band for 34 years now, and it's been fantastic," said Jabs, whose band brings its farewell tour to Tucson Sunday. "To see the world, to play to so many great people and to be able to make great music and live a relatively independent life ... that's a luxury."
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We caught up with the 56-year-old Jabs at his home in Germany to talk about the tour and life after the Scorpions.
First, a primer: The German rock band, known for its anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and power ballads "Wind of Change" and "Send Me an Angel," was founded by guitarist Rudolf Schenker in 1965. But it took more than a decade for the band to find its footing and a lineup.
The Scorpions put out 17 albums and toured the globe fairly nonstop, spending roughly two years on the road touring on each album. Their last Tucson show was in 2007 to support "Humanity: Hour 1."
In 2010, on the eve of releasing its latest studio album "Sting in the Tail," the band's longtime manager first broached the idea of a farewell, retirement tour.
He asked the band members to consider where they would be when the "Sting" tour ended. A few of the members were in their mid-50s and a couple were inching into their 60s; lead singer Klaus Meine turned 64 last month, Jabs said.
The band members took two weeks to reach the same conclusion as their manager.
"The chance that the fans will remember a band that was always great live and was always skinny and in the best shape - we would prefer to be remembered like this rather than 'Here they are again, getting old and boring,' " said Jabs. "The thought never crossed our minds (before then). Basically you don't plan the end of your career. You just think, subconsciously at least, that it goes on forever."
Because rock 'n' roll never dies, right?
"That's true. The music will never die, but at some point ... maybe if you are a blues musician like B.B. King, he can go in a wheelchair on stage and play and do that until he dies. But a rock band like we are running around ... it might get ridiculous."
What's it like playing each night and knowing this is the last time you'll play that city for those fans?
"It is something that you don't want to think about too much. We've learned this during the last two years of being on the farewell tour. If you let it sink too much into your mind and your body ... I'd rather not think about it as the last show. I'd rather play with full force."
Do you still bring that energy and stage dynamic to the live show?
"Oh absolutely. I think the band is in top form. We are constantly playing. Tomorrow we are flying to Morocco - it's the first and last show in Morocco - and for the fans, it's the first one. ... What do the fans expect? They expect the band being like they know them from YouTube and old videos. Of course we are in top form. I want to go on stage and be as crazy as I've always been and be 110 percent."
Is it still fun for you to play those songs like "Wind of Change" and "Hurricane"?
"Yeah, because the audience is different every night. I cannot imagine playing those songs in the rehearsal studio without any audience. But the audience is new every night and it's magic. ... The way they sing and dance, that makes it different every night."
The tour ends in Germany. Do you have any special ties to Oberhausen?
"Actually, I've never played there. It's a nice, huge venue. Kiss played there recently. ... We decided not to do the big outdoor (ceremonial farewell) show. That would feel awful. ... Mentally, it is very hard to digest, to do both at the same time - the greatest show everybody is expecting and at the same time the last one."
What for you has been the hardest show emotionally knowing it's the last time?
"A number of those. Basically every city we are playing this year is definitely the last time. I've been through a lot of emotional downs, so to speak, because it is sad. Also, the fans don't make it easy on us. You see them crying ... and it makes me cry almost. Actually I did on some occasions. ... Russia was very emotional. We had that crying going on quite a bit."
What's next for you post-Scorpions?
"I want to find out for myself what it feels like if I don't have a show to do, I don't have to go to the studio next week. ... The Scorpions never took a break. I have been doing this constantly without interruption since the summer of 1978, and I would really love to find out what it's like to be on my own and make my own plans. How about that?
"I will never stop making music. Things will just come to me - I'm pretty sure."
If you go
• What: Scorpions with Tesla.
• When: 8 p.m. Sunday.
• Where: Casino del Sol's AVA, 5655 W. Valencia Road.
• Tickets: $40 to $70 through tickets.solcasinos.com
• Et cetera: Tesla founding member and guitarist Frank Hannon will perform a solo gig at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave., at 7 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $10, or $5 if you show your Scorpions/Tesla ticket at the door.
